GP change sparks anger

UP TO 1,300 medical card and GP visit cardholders in Finglas are being told they’ll have to go to Ballymun to see a new GP following the resignation of a local doctor.

Dr Angela Parvu of Village Medical Centre on Main Street Finglas notified the HSE that she’s resigning from the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme from November 30.

Medical card or GP visit cardholders with Dr Parvu have been transferred to another doctor at Village Medical Centre until the end of December.

However, from January 1, they’ll be transferred to Dr Aliya Rahim at College Gate Clinic on Ballymun Road following a successful application to the HSE to take over Dr Parvu’s GMS panel of patients.

It’s understood there was little interest from Finglas GPs to take over the panel.

Local TD Dessie Ellis (SF) says he’s been inundated by calls from frustrated locals complaining they’re facing a two-mile trek for GP services.

“Some of these patients are elderly or have a disability and it’s a disaster for them,” he said.

“It’s not the fault of the doctors or, in fairness, HSE staff but the system has let them down badly.

“There has to be a better way to manage the GMS scheme so that patients aren’t left in this situation. 

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“It needs to be revised to deal with this type of problem.”

Under the terms of a GMS contract, when a GP resigns or retires their panel of patients is frozen, meaning medical card or GP visit cardholders can only be treated by a replacement until a new GP is appointed to take over the panel.

The panel remains frozen for a further three months after the panel is officially transferred to a new GP, which happens after the contract goes out to tender.

When the three months are up, patients are then free to apply to be transferred to other GPs. That mean’s Dr Parvu’s patients can’t transfer to another GP in the area until March 31 at the earliest under the Choice of Doctor scheme.

Letters are being sent out to patients informing them of the change and they can refuse to have their medical files transferred to the new doctor by writing to the HSE.

However, a summery of their file will still have to be transferred.